Spark indicator and intensifier for gasoline engines



H. z zi -ux'ssutsai q ENGINES FOR GASOLINE SPARK INDlCATOR AND INTENSIFIER 59 122 2 Shams-Sheet Filed Dec.

fi emzwerf INVENTOR.

mg i M W ATTORNEY.

gain 25 192% 1,487,852

' H. HANAUER SPARK INDICATOR AND INTENSIFIER FOR GASOLINE ENGINES Filed Dec. 12, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY;

, Fatented Mar. 25, 1924.

1,487,852 PATENT @FFHQE.

HENRY HANAUER, OF TOLLAND, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPARK INDICATOR AND INTENSIFIER FOR GASOLINE ENGINES.

'Application filed December 12, 1922. Serial No. 606,392.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY HANAUER, a citizen of the United' States, residing at Tolland, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark Indicators and Intensifiers for Gasoline Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in spark indicators and intensifiers adapted for application to all types of internal combustion engines, employing as a charge firing medium what are universally known as spark plugs, the invention being primari y adapted for attachment to motor vehicles employing this type of propulsion means.

The foremost object of the present invention resides in the'provision of such a device that is not only adapted for indicating at all times the firing condition of the spark plugs,but will at the same time function as an intensifier of the current passing through the plugs. A further object of the invention is to provide such a device that isso constructed as to be readily positioned upon the instrument board of a motor vehicle, so as to be visible at all times to the driver of the vehicle, and for allowing ready adjustments and repairs to the device.

The nature and advantages of the inven- I tion will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In-the drawings forming part of this a plication, like numerals of reference ind cate similar parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the same being shown as in position upon an instrument board of a conventional type of motor vehicle.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Fi ure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional viewtaken substantially upon the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary,sectionalview through the casing, showing more clearly,

one of the adjustable post members and its supporting means employed in connection with the present invention, and

Figure is a diagrammatic view of the electrical wiring employed in connection with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, my invention contemplates the provision of a metallic casing engaging through an opening 1, in the usual instrument board A of a motor vehicle, to be secured thereto in a manner hereinafter described.

This casing consists of a top and bottom wall 2 and 3, rear wall 4, and end walls 5. Adjacent the front of each end wall 5, there is formed a laterally extending ear 6 having an opening therein, for the reception of a screw or the like fastening means 7, which fastening means engage through the alined openings in the instrument board A for rigidly securing'the casing upon the said instrument board. The front end of the easing is provided with a hinged cover 8, which is in the form of an open frame having a transparent glass panel 9 therein, whereby tihe interior of the casing may be readily viewed by the operator of the vehicle. A fastening means 10 may be provided for locking the cover in a closed position upon the casing. Within this casing there is po sitioned spaced metallic post members 11, the upper ends thereof being reduced and headed as shown in Figures 2 and 1 for engaging through spaced openings within the top wall 2 of the casingf The lower ends of these post members are formed with platinum points 12, and directly beneath these points are other platinum points 13 formed upon the upper ends of screw threaded posts 14;. These latter mentioned posts 14 are screw threadedly disposed within screw threaded openings in the enlarged and split ends 15 of right-angularly extending arm members 16.

The members 16 are in turn, right-angularly formed upon the upper ends of vertical posts 17, the lower ends of which are reduced and screw threaded as at 18 for engaging through spaced openings within the bottom wall 3 of the casing. These post receiving openings in the bottom wall of the casing are rearwardly of, and substantially between the upper post receiving openings in the top wall 2 of the casing and are provided with insulating washers 19. The posts 18 are rigidly disposed within the easing by nuts 20 engaging over the reduced threaded ends 18 thereof, and also engaging over these screw threaded ends are thumb nuts 21, for permitting of the attachment of electric wires thereto.

It will at once be apparent that by the provision of the screw threaded posts 1%, the gap between the platinum points 12 and 13 may be adjusted as desired, the lower ends of these posts having thumb nuts 14'. For retainin these points in their adjusted position, tie said split ends 15 of the arms 16 are formed with fingers 22, having openings therein for the reception of a headed set screw 23 for contracting the split ends of the arms 16 over the screw threaded posts 14, after the same have been properly adjusted.

In the diagrammatic view, Figure 5, I have shown my device as being employed in connection with spark'plugs of the two terminal type, it being understood however. that the wiring may be so changed as to adapt my device to any kind of spark plug employed in connection with the motors,

. as shown in this view, the several contacts a of a conventional type of current distributor B having electrical connection with one of the terminals of the proper spark plug C, the other terminal of each of the plugs being electrically connected to the proper one of the adjustable posts 14 of my device. The stationary posts 11 are grounded as at 14 through the casing, the instrument board A, and the motor frame. It will therefore be seen, that when the movable posts 14 are adjustedto their desired position, the current from the distributor B will jum across the gap between the platinum points 12 and 13 of the posts 11 and 14, respectively, when the plugs in the cylinders are properly firing. This jump of the current will also produce an intensifying action of the current and should one of the plugs C within the motor be fouled or short eirciiited, the spark will fail to jump between the said platinum point-s thereby readily indicating to the driver of the vehicle, which of the plugs are out of order.

Upon the front face of the glass panel 9 in the hinged cover 4 of the casing, numerals 25 are formed thereon, for indicating the relation of the different spark gaps with the proper plugs C of the engine, and while I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is In a device of the class described, a casing. spaced stationary posts within the easing and supported within openings in the upper wall thereof, vertical posts supported within openings in the bottom wall of the casing and rearwardly of and substantially between the stationary posts, right angularly extending arms formed upon the upper ends of the posts and having split ends in alinement with the said stationary posts, screw threaded posts engaging through openings in the split ends of the arms and adapted for adjustment with respect to the said stationary posts and means for retaining said screwthreaded posts in their adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY HANAUER. 

